Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Military Panel Topical 4 Operation
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Census Bureau wants to ask soldiers and their spouses questions about things like food and voting. They need help to make sure they're asking the right questions, but some people might be confused about how to answer or where to find more instructions.
Summary AI
The U.S. Census Bureau, part of the Commerce Department, is seeking public comments on its ongoing information collection activities for the Military Panel, which targets active-duty service members and their spouses. This panel aims to gather data on various topics, including food security readiness, voting, and harassment and discrimination, with the next data collection set for January 2025. It involves bi-monthly surveys to about 1,141 respondents and seeks to eventually have 2,000 members. The public can submit feedback within 30 days of the notice's publication through the specified government website.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register outlines a notice from the U.S. Census Bureau, part of the Commerce Department, regarding its ongoing efforts to collect data from a special panel known as the Military Panel. This panel is designed to gather information from active-duty service members and their spouses on topics such as food security readiness, voting, and harassment and discrimination. The data collection is scheduled for January 2025, with surveys conducted bi-monthly.
Summary of the Document
The purpose of this notice is to invite public comments on the proposed information collections. The Census Bureau aims to eventually have 2,000 members in the panel, evenly divided between service members and their spouses, though currently there are only 1,141 respondents. The survey participants will be contacted through digital means such as email and SMS, and will have incentives for completing the surveys. Comments and recommendations are sought to ensure the collection process is as seamless and effective as possible, aiming to minimize the public's reporting burden.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One primary concern with this document is the lack of clarity regarding who will provide the incentives for survey completions. Without this information, there might be concerns about potential biases or misuse of funds. Additionally, the document mentions an average of "2 hours per year (20 minutes for bi-monthly collection)" for survey responses, but this phrasing might confuse readers about whether each survey takes 20 minutes or if that is the time commitment per year for all surveys combined.
The document also states that only 1,141 respondents have currently been recruited, which falls short of the goal of 2,000 members needed for a more representative sample. This could impact the validity of the data collected. Furthermore, the absence of specified form numbers could confuse respondents about which documents they need to complete.
Legal references like "10 U.S.C. 1782; Title 13 U.S.C. 8(b)" are mentioned without explanation, potentially alienating those unfamiliar with such codes. Additionally, instructions for public commenting lack detail, possibly discouraging participation from individuals uncomfortable with navigating online platforms.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, the initiative aims to gather crucial data that could shape policies affecting military families, which is a positive endeavor. However, the document’s unclear elements may lead to misunderstandings or reduced participation from potential respondents.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For active-duty service members and their spouses, this panel offers a platform to voice opinions and experiences that could influence policy and improve conditions. However, the panel's current under-recruitment and potential data collection issues could undermine its effectiveness. Public agencies and organizations advocating for military families might view this as an opportunity to highlight issues pertinent to their constituencies.
In conclusion, the document outlines a potentially impactful data collection initiative while also revealing areas that may benefit from greater transparency and clarity to ensure its success and comprehensiveness.
Issues
• The document does not specify which organization or individual will be providing the incentive for the completion of each questionnaire, which could lead to potential concerns about favoritism or wasteful spending.
• The average hours per response might be unclear. It states '2 hours per year (20 minutes for bi-monthly collection)', which could lead to ambiguity about whether the respondents dedicate 20 minutes each time bi-monthly or 2 hours in total annually.
• The number of respondents (1,141) being less than the ultimate goal of 2,000 panel members may raise questions about the sufficiency of data collection and the representativeness of the sample.
• The lack of specificity regarding the form number(s) might lead to confusion about the specific forms respondents are expected to complete.
• The document references legal authority titles like '10 U.S.C. 1782; Title 13 U.S.C. 8(b)' without any explanation of what these titles entail, which could be seen as overly complex for those unfamiliar with U.S. legal codes.
• The section for public comments does not provide explicit instructions or a detailed process other than visiting a website, which might discourage feedback from those less familiar with online navigation.