[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5083-5084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01494]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2023-0048]


Request for Information on Social Security Scientific Integrity 
Policy

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Request for Information.

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SUMMARY: The SSA is soliciting comments and suggestions from the public 
on the DRAFT Scientific Integrity Policy of the Social Security 
Administration (DRAFT SSA Scientific Integrity Policy). The DRAFT SSA 
Scientific Integrity Policy codifies expectations to preserve 
scientific integrity throughout SSA scientific activities, establishes 
key roles and responsibilities for those who will lead the agency's 
scientific integrity program, and, as appropriate, establishes relevant 
reporting and evaluation mechanisms.

DATES: To ensure that your comments are considered, we must receive 
them no later than February 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any one of three methods--
internet, fax, or mail. Do not submit the same comments multiple times 
or by more than one method. Regardless of which method you choose, 
please state that your comments refer to Docket No. SSA-2023-0048 so 
that we may associate your comments with the correct docket.
    Caution: You should be careful to include in your comments only 
information that you wish to make publicly available. We strongly urge 
you not to include in your comments any personal information, such as 
Social Security numbers or medical information.
    1. Internet: We strongly recommend that you submit your comments 
via the internet. Please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at 
www.regulations.gov. Use the ``Search'' function to find docket number 
SSA-2023-0048. The system will issue a tracking number to confirm your 
submission. You will not be able to view your comment immediately 
because we must post each comment manually. It may take up to a week 
for your comment to be viewable.
    2. Fax: Fax comments to 1(833) 410-1631.
    3. Mail: Mail your comments to the Office of Legislation and 
Congressional Affairs, Regulations and Reports Clearance, Social 
Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, 3rd Floor (East) 
Altmeyer Building, Mail Stop 3253, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401.
    Comments are available for public viewing on the Federal 
eRulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov or in person, during regular 
business hours, by arranging with the contact person identified below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Weathers, Office of Retirement 
and Disability Policy, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401, (410) 615-6965, email: 
[email protected]. For information on eligibility or filing for 
benefits, call our national toll-free number, 1-800-325-0778, or visit 
our internet site, Social Security Online, at www.socialsecurity.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SSA has developed a DRAFT SSA Scientific 
Integrity Policy to help ensure science and scientific activities are 
proposed, conducted, reviewed, managed, communicated, and used in ways 
that preserve accuracy and objectivity. The policy aligns with Federal 
Government scientific integrity efforts described in the 2021 
Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through 
Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based

[[Page 5084]]

Policymaking \1\ (2021 Presidential Memorandum), as well as the 
National Science and Technology Council reports, Protecting the 
Integrity of Government Science \2\ (January 2022) and A Framework for 
Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice \3\ (January 2023).
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    \1\ See 86 FR 8845 (January 27, 2021).
    \2\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/01-22-Protecting_the_Integrity_of_Government_Science.pdf.
    \3\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/01-2023-Framework-for-Federal-Scientific-Integrity-Policy-and-Practice.pdf.
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Background

    For nearly 90 years, we have administered programs and provided 
services that make a difference in millions of people's lives. In 
fiscal year (FY) 2023, our programs provided a combined total of about 
$1.4 trillion in benefit payments to an average of over 70 million 
beneficiaries. The major programs we administer--the Old-Age Survivors 
and Disability Insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income 
program--provide an important source of economic security for millions 
of Americans. Our fundamental mission is to deliver quality Social 
Security services that ensure equity and accessibility, improve the 
customer experience, and address systemic barriers to participation in 
our programs.
    The 2021 Presidential Memorandum states the Administration's goal 
is to make evidence-based decisions guided by the best available 
science and data, recognizing that scientific and technological 
information, data, and evidence are central to the development and 
iterative improvement of sound policies and to the equitable delivery 
of programs across every area of the Federal Government. The 2021 
Presidential Memorandum emphasizes that political interference in the 
work of Federal scientists and other scientists who support the work of 
the Federal Government (e.g., government contractors, volunteers) and 
in the communication of scientific facts undermines the welfare of the 
Nation, contributes to systemic inequities and injustices, and violates 
the trust that the public places in our government to best serve its 
collective interests.
    We conduct scientific activities that include evaluations of pilot 
projects, evaluations of demonstration projects, quantitative studies, 
qualitative studies, and mixed methods studies that inform important 
priorities, such as delivering services effectively, improving the way 
we conduct business, updating policies and regulations, and ensuring 
effective stewardship. For example, we conducted evidence-building 
activities relevant to our Equity Action Plan,\4\ which was created in 
accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity 
and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal 
Government,\5\ as well as E.O. 14058 on Transforming Federal Customer 
Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government.\6\ This 
aligns with our Agency Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2022-2026,\7\ which 
includes a strategy for deepening our understanding of our customers 
and what drives their evolving service preferences.
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    \4\ https://www.ssa.gov/open/materials/SSA-E.O.-13985-Equity-Action-Plan.pdf.
    \5\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/.
    \6\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/12/13/executive-order-on-transforming-federal-customer-experience-and-service-delivery-to-rebuild-trust-in-government/.
    \7\ Social Security Administration, Agency Strategic Plan Fiscal 
Years 2022-2026, available at  https://www.ssa.gov/agency/asp/materials/pdfs/SSA_Agency_Strategic_Plan_Fiscal_Years_2022-2026.pdf.
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    We also conduct extramural research, demonstration projects, and 
outreach under sections 1110, 1115, and 1144 of the Social Security Act 
(Act). Sections 1110 and 1115 of the Act provide the waiver authority 
we need to conduct extramural research and demonstration projects, 
while section 1144 of the Act addresses outreach activities to inform 
and assist Medicare beneficiaries with low income who may be eligible 
for Medicare cost sharing or subsidized prescription drug coverage. A 
previous authority, under section 234 of the Act, allowed us to waive 
Disability Insurance program rules to enhance labor force 
participation; that authority sunset in 2022. We currently fund a range 
of scientific projects designed to:
     Help us keep pace with advancements in medicine and 
technology;
     Modernize our vocational rules;
     Test work support models;
     Analyze program trends, gaps, and inconsistencies; and
     Measure the public's understanding of our programs, as 
well as the impact of program changes.

Request for Information (RFI)

    Through this RFI, we are asking interested persons, including 
stakeholders across public and private sectors who may be familiar with 
or interested in the work of our agency, for input on the DRAFT SSA 
Scientific Integrity Policy.
    We invite suggestions that will help strengthen and promote 
scientific integrity throughout the agency. The responses to this RFI 
that interested persons submit to us will be considered as we develop a 
final SSA Scientific Integrity Policy. This RFI is for information and 
planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or 
as an obligation on our part. We will not respond to the comments we 
receive in response to this RFI. However, we will use the input to 
develop our Scientific Integrity Policy.
    The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Martin 
O'Malley, having reviewed and approved this document, is delegating the 
authority to electronically sign this document to Faye I. Lipsky, who 
is the primary Federal Register Liaison for SSA, for purposes of 
publication in the Federal Register.

Faye I. Lipsky,
Federal Register Liaison, Office of Legislation and Congressional 
Affairs, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-01494 Filed 1-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P