[Federal Register: April 12, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 70)]
[Notices]
[Page 18711-18712]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ap06-34]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Economic Research Service
Notice of Intent of Seek Approval to Collect Information
AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5
CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), 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, commencing with
the December 2006 survey. These data will be used to monitor household
level food security and food insecurity in the United States; to assess
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.
[[Page 18712]]
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 16, 2006 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Mark Nord,
Food Assistance Branch, Food Economics Division, Economic Research
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street, NW., Room N-
2180, Washington, DC 20036-5831. Tel. 202-694-5433. Submit electronic
comments to marknord@ers.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Application for an Annual Food Security Supplement to the
Current Population Survey, Beginning in December 2006.
Type of Request: Approval to collect information on household food
insecurity.
OMB Number: 0536-0043.
Expiration data: N/A.
Abstract: The U.S. Census Bureau will supplement the December
Current Population Survey, beginning in 2006, with questions regarding
household food shopping, food sufficiency, coping mechanisms and food
scarcity, and concern about food sufficiency. A similar supplement has
been appended to the CPS annually since 1995. The last collection was
in December 2005. Copies of the information to be collected can be
obtained from the address in the preamble.
ERS is responsible for conducting studies and evaluations of the
Nation's food assistance programs that are administered by the Food and
Nutrition Service (FNS), U. S. Department of Agriculture. The
Department spends about $46 billion each year to ensure access to
nutritious, healthful diets for all Americans. The Food and Nutrition
Service administers the 15 food assistance programs of the USDA
including Food Stamps, Child Nutrition, and WIC programs. These
programs, which serve 1 in 5 Americans, represent our Nation's
commitment to the principle that no one in our country should lack the
food needed for an active healthy life. They provide a 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.
These data 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 emergency kitchens. 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 recently
reviewed 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. All interviews, whether by personal
visit or by telephone, are conducted using computers.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this data
collection is estimated to average 7.6 minutes for each household that
responds to the laborforce portion of the CPS.
Respondents: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 56,200.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,155 hours.
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.
Dated: March 21, 2006.
Susan Offutt,
Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. E6-5343 Filed 4-11-06; 8:45 am]
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