Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activity: Certification Requirements for Funeral Honors Providers
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The people in charge of veterans' cemeteries want to make sure that when they have special ceremonies, like funerals, everything is safe and respectful. They are asking for ideas from everyone on how to collect the right information to make this happen, and people can share their thoughts online until early June 2025.
Summary AI
The National Cemetery Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking public comments on a proposed information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This involves a revision of a previously approved data collection, aiming to ensure that funeral honors on VA properties uphold the dignity and safety of these sites. The public can share their thoughts on whether this information is necessary, how accurate the VA's burden estimates are, and how to improve the process. Comments are due by June 9, 2025, and can be submitted via the regulations.gov website.
Abstract
National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the National Cemetery Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs seeks public comments regarding the collection of certain information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This particular collection is focused on the certification requirements for funeral honors providers on VA property. The information is expected to ensure that funeral honors activities maintain the honor and dignity of national cemeteries and do not compromise the safety of visitors.
General Summary
The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of a proposed revision to an existing information collection and to gather public feedback within a 60-day window. The VA aims to assess whether this information collection is necessary, evaluate the accuracy of their burden estimates, and explore ways to enhance the process. People interested in submitting comments are directed to use the regulations.gov website before the cutoff date of June 9, 2025.
Significant Issues and Concerns
There are several noteworthy issues with the information provided in the document. First, the document lacks specifics regarding the actual certification requirements for funeral honors providers, which may impede stakeholders' ability to offer informed feedback. Without clarity on what is being required, it is challenging for the public to assess its necessity or its potential impact.
Additionally, while the notice mentions a decrease in respondents and associated cost savings, it does not clarify why this decline occurred, nor does it explain how cost savings were achieved. This information would be useful in evaluating the effectiveness and necessity of the data collection.
Moreover, the document invites public comment but does not provide explicit guidance on what constitutes a helpful comment. Examples or further instructions could facilitate more meaningful public engagement.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, the document entails a potential impact on veterans and the general public who might engage with VA cemeteries. Ensuring dignity and safety during funeral honors is a commendable goal, and clear certification requirements are crucial for maintaining these standards. Public input could influence the refinement of this process and the implementation of any changes.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For funeral honors providers, any changes in certification requirements could have direct implications, potentially requiring new procedures or additional documentation. While the estimated burden per respondent is minimal at five minutes, how this time is allocated among tasks remains unspecified, which could concern these stakeholders regarding form complexity or required information.
Veterans and their families, as well as visitors to VA cemeteries, are indirectly affected. Properly trained honors providers contribute to the respectful and safe conduct of ceremonies, essential for honoring veterans. However, without sufficient context provided in the document, the public may find it challenging to fully grasp the rationale or offer constructive feedback.
In conclusion, while the initiative to revise certification requirements has the potential to positively impact stakeholders by upholding cemetery dignity and safety, greater transparency and clearer guidance could enhance public participation and the overall efficacy of the notice.
Financial Assessment
The document primarily discusses a proposed information collection by the National Cemetery Administration regarding certification requirements for funeral honors providers. Notably, it makes references to financial elements impacting both respondents and the federal government.
One specific monetary reference highlights that due to fewer respondents in 2025, the cost to respondents declined from $887 in 2022 to an estimated $792, resulting in a $95 reduction in respondent cost savings. This reference suggests that fewer individuals or households are participating in the certification process or are affected by this information collection requirement, which directly impacts the financial burden on respondents.
However, the document does not detail how these cost savings were calculated. It mentions a simple comparison between two years without explaining the factors that led to this decline. Understanding this calculation could be important for respondents to comprehend how their personal costs may change or why they might choose to participate or not.
Additionally, the notice indicates that the cost to the Federal Government decreased due to the reduced number of respondents and the associated decline in annual responses and printing costs. However, similar to the respondents' cost savings, the document lacks an explanation of this decrease. Clarity on this subject could have been beneficial, particularly for stakeholders interested in understanding governmental budget adjustments linked to this initiative.
In summary, while the document presents specific financial savings for respondents and cost reductions for the federal government, it lacks detailed explanations about these financial changes. Providing a comprehensive breakdown of these costs could help evaluate the necessity and efficiency of the information collection process. The absence of such details might contribute to challenges in understanding the broader financial rationale behind the reduced participation in this program.
Issues
• The document does not specify what the specific certification requirements for funeral honors providers are, making it difficult for respondents to understand the nature of the information collection.
• The expected cost savings to the respondents is mentioned, but there is no detailed explanation of how these cost savings were calculated.
• The notice mentions an opportunity for public comment but does not provide any additional guidance or examples of what kinds of comments would be considered helpful.
• While the number of respondents decreased, there is no explanation as to why the number of respondents declined, which might be relevant for evaluating the necessity of the information collection.
• The 'Estimated Average Burden per Respondent' is provided in minutes but could be more informative if broken down further to show how this time is typically spent (e.g., form completion, information gathering, etc.).
• The notice does not provide any background context or examples of what funeral honors activities entail or what aspects might impact the safety or dignity of cemetery activities, which could help in understanding the rationale behind the information collection.