[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 230 (Friday, December 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68630-68631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26304]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs


Request for Comments on the Execution of the FY 22/26 Learning 
Agenda

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

ACTION: Request for information.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Foundations for Evidence-Based 
Policymaking Act of 2018 (the Evidence Act), Public Law 115-435,\1\ the 
Department of Commerce has developed a draft Learning Agenda for FY 
2022 to FY 2026. The Learning Agenda lists significant priority 
evidence/evaluation questions that will be researched over the next 
four years to help achieve the Department's Strategic Objectives. The 
final plan will be published in February 2022 and will be reviewed 
annually for possible updates and improvements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 5 U.S.C. 312.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Research questions in the plan cover a broad range of topics 
reflecting the wide-ranging authorities and programs across the 
Department. One common theme across many bureaus, and consistent with 
the Administration's focus on equitable economic growth, is the extent 
to which programs are reaching traditionally underserved communities 
and populations and meeting their needs. These questions are listed in 
the Supplementary Information.
    General comments are invited but input is particularly requested 
on:

 Strategies to best engage with underserved communities and 
populations on research methodology
 Data sets maintained by states, localities, regional 
organizations, or non-profits that could support the research
 Recent significant research most relevant to the Learning 
Agenda questions

    The information provided will be used to develop and refine the 
approach used to conduct research. This includes identifying 
organizations and individuals who will be included in focus groups.

DATES: Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on January 
31, 2022. Written comments in response to the RFI should be submitted 
according to the instructions in the Addresses sections below. 
Submissions received after that date may not be considered.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted via email to 
[email protected]. Attachments to the email will be accepted 
only in ADOBE[supreg] portable document format or MICROSOFT 
WORD[supreg] format. All submissions, including attachments and other 
supporting materials, will become part of the public record and subject 
to public disclosure. The Department of Commerce reserves the right to 
publish relevant comments publicly, unedited and in their entirety. 
Personal information, such as account numbers or Social Security 
numbers, or names of other individuals, should not be included. Do not 
submit confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions regarding this notice 
please call 202-604-5634 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following are Learning Agenda topics and 
questions that would particularly

[[Page 68631]]

benefit from engagement with underserved communities and populations on 
the approach to the research and available data and expertise.

Equitable Sustained Prosperity

    To what extent do minority business enterprises (MBEs) participate, 
produce, innovate, and compete in manufacturing? What Department 
actions would be most effective in increasing MBE participation in 
manufacturing?
    What types of Economic Development Administration funded activities 
(including those funded by CARES and the American Rescue Plan) are 
associated with the strongest long-term economic advances, particularly 
for underserved communities and populations?
    What is the best approach to increasing capital available to 
minority businesses?
    What are the most significant barriers to providing business 
assistance to underserved communities and populations? How can they be 
removed?

Data Availability and Usability

    What datasets are available/needed to track the impact of 
Department programs on historically underserved communities/
populations?
    What refinements and new statistics can best support better and 
more equitable management of the economy?
    What internal processes and publicly facing Commerce tools will 
democratize data access and improve awareness of the Commerce data 
inventory?

Weather and Climate Information

    How can NOAA provide more effective and equitable climate 
mitigation and adaptation science breakthroughs?
    How can weather forecasts be communicated effectively to vulnerable 
populations?
    What additional models and tools do communities need to better 
prepare for coastal inundation at seasonal, annual, and multi-year 
timescales?
    Request for Information: Respondents may organize their submissions 
in response to this RFI in any manner. Responses may include estimates, 
which should be identified as such. All responses that comply with the 
requirements listed in the DATES and ADDRESSES sections of this RFI 
will be considered.

Christine Heflin,
Evaluation Officer, Department of Commerce, Office of the Under 
Secretary for Economic Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-26304 Filed 12-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-MN-P