E7-3143. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed reinstatement of the “Veterans Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS),” to be conducted in August 2007. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice on or before April 27, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212, 202-691-7628. (This is not a toll free number.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 202-691-7628. (See ADDRESSES section.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The CPS has been the principal source of the official Government statistics on employment and unemployment for 67 years. Collection of labor force data through the CPS is necessary to meet the requirements in Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1 and 2. The Veterans supplement provides information on the labor force status of veterans with a service-connected disability, combat veterans, National Guard and Reserve veterans and recently discharged veterans. Data are provided by period of service and a range of demographic characteristics. The supplement also provides information on veterans' participation in various transitioning and employment and training programs. The data collected through this supplement will be used by the Veterans Employment and Training Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine policies that better meet the needs of our Nation's veteran population.

II. Current Action

Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for the Veterans Supplement to the CPS. The August 2007 questionnaire includes some revisions made since the August 2005 supplement. Questions were added about Reserve or National Guard status, branch of Armed Forces in which a veteran last served on active duty, and combat exposure (for all service periods). Questions that identified which Vietnam veterans served in the Vietnam theater were deleted. A question about campaign or expeditionary medals awarded was also deleted. Two questions about transition workshops were combined.

Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired.

Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Title: Veterans Supplement to the CPS.

OMB Number: 1220-0102.

Affected Public: Households.

Total Respondents: 12,000.

Frequency: Biennially.

Total Responses: 12,000.

Average Time per Response: Approximately 2 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 400 hours.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.

III. Desired Focus of Comments

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in comments that:

• Evaluate 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.
• Evaluate 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.
• Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.
• 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, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they also will become a matter of public record.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 16th day of February, 2007.

Kimberley Hill,

Acting Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.