Request for Information on the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 Learning Agenda, 20585-20586 [2021-08115]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 74 / Tuesday, April 20, 2021 / Notices provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSEAMER–2021–19 and should be submitted on or before May 11, 2021. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.22 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–08037 Filed 4–19–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION [Docket No. SSA–2021–0008] Request for Information on the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 Learning Agenda Social Security Administration. Request for information. AGENCY: ACTION: The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act) and implementing Executive Branch guidance requires Federal agencies to develop an evidence-building plan, referred to as a Learning Agenda, to identify and address questions relevant to agency programs, policies, and regulations. Through this Request for Information (RFI), we seek public input to help us identify priority questions to guide our evidence-building activities. DATES: To ensure that your comments are considered, we must receive them no later than May 20, 2021. 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– 2021–0008 so that we may associate your comments with the correct docket. SUMMARY: 22 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:10 Apr 19, 2021 Jkt 253001 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 https:// www.regulations.gov. Use the Search function to find docket number SSA– 2021–0008. 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 (410) 966– 2830. 3. Mail: Mail your comments to the Office of Regulations, Social Security Administration, 3100 West High Rise Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235–6401. Comments are available for public viewing on the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://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 (SSA), 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235– 6401, (410) 615–6965. 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 https:// www.socialsecurity.gov. The Evidence Act 1 requires Federal agencies to develop ‘‘a systematic plan for identifying and addressing policy questions relevant to the programs, policies, and regulations of the agency.’’ 2 This plan, referred to as a Learning Agenda, offers the opportunity for us to use data in order to address the key questions we want to answer to improve our operational and programmatic outcomes and to establish strategies to develop evidence to answer important short-and long-term strategic and operational questions.3 We seek SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1 Public Law 115–435, 132 Stat. 5529. U.S.C. 312(a). 3 See Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, from Russell T. Vought, Phase 1 Implementation of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018: Learning Agendas, Personnel, and Planning Guidance (July 10, 2019) 25 PO 00000 Frm 00110 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 20585 public comments to inform the development of our Learning Agenda. Background In fiscal year (FY) 2021, our programs will provide a combined total of about $1.2 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 to the public. We conduct evidence-building activities that include pilot projects, 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 have conducted evidence-building activities to inform our efforts to modernize the Social Security Statement. This aligns with our FYs 2018–2022 Agency Strategic Plan, which includes modernizing the Social Security Statement to increase the public’s understanding of our programs as a strategy. We have also conducted extramural research, demonstration projects, and outreach under Sections 234, 1110, and 1144 of the Social Security Act (Act).4 Sections 234 and 1110 of the Act provide us with authority 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. We currently fund a range of projects designed to: • Help us keep pace with advancements in medicine and technology; • Modernize our vocational rules; • Test models that promote labor force participation; • Analyze program trends, gaps, and inconsistencies; and • Measure the public’s understanding of our programs, as well as the impact of program changes. For more information on such projects, please see the ‘‘Research, Demonstration Projects, and Outreach’’ section of the Supplemental Security 4 42 U.S.C. 434, 1310, 1315, and 1320b–14, respectively. E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1 20586 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 74 / Tuesday, April 20, 2021 / Notices Income Program technical supporting materials to our FY 2021 Budget submission that is located on our website: https://www.ssa.gov/budget/ FY21Files/2021SSI.pdf. Notice of application procedures. ACTION: Request for Information 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 evidence-building activities that inform important priorities for our agency, including those that are related to the President’s broader priorities that are available at https://www.whitehouse. gov/priorities/. We also seek input on future projects that will advance our mission. We invite suggestions in various forms—as key questions to be answered, hypotheses to be tested, or problems to be investigated—that are focused on any area of our mission, including service delivery, operations, programs, policies, regulations, communication, and stewardship. The responses to this RFI that interested persons submit to us will inform our ongoing development of a set of priorities that will guide evidencebuilding activities. We will analyze information collected from this RFI to inform the development of our Learning Agenda. 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 received in response to this RFI, but will use the input to develop our Learning Agenda. The Commissioner of Social Security, Andrew Saul, 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. 2021–08115 Filed 4–19–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4191–02–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration [Docket No. 28895] Airport Investment Partnership Program: Application Procedures Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:10 Apr 19, 2021 Jkt 253001 This document provides procedures for applying for FAA approval of the privatization or partial privatization of a federally obligated public airport. This document revises the procedures for applying for approval of the privatization of a federally obligated public airport, to reflect the provisions of the AIPP. It also revises the statement of issues the FAA will consider in granting exemptions and approving the transfer of a public use airport under the new program. DATES: This policy takes effect April 20, 2021. No changes are required to an application submitted and accepted for review prior to publication if there is no change to the applicant’s proposed transaction. The FAA will evaluate all applications in the order of receipt. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin C. Willis, Director, Office of Airport Compliance and Management Analysis, (ACO–1), Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20591, (202) 267– 3085. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Introduction and Background Section 149 of the Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 established an airport privatization pilot program (APPP), and authorized the Department of Transportation to grant exemptions from certain Federal statutory and regulatory requirements for up to five airport privatization projects. A request for participation in the APPP was initiated by the filing of either a preliminary or a final application for exemption with the FAA. The FAA issued final guidance for applying for participation in the program in September 1997. Section 160 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 established the Airport Investment Partnership Program (AIPP), which eliminates the limit on the number of airport privatizations that the FAA may approve, allows privatization of multiple airports by one airport sponsor, and allows public participation in ownership of a private operator. Requirements for FAA approval of an airport privatization are substantially the same as under the pilot program. This notice of application procedures to be used by applicants for an airport privatization project is being published pursuant to section 149 of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1996, Public Law 104–264 (October 9, 1996) (1996 Reauthorization PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Act), which added a new section 47134 to Title 49 of the U.S. Code, and subsequent amendments of section 47134, including most recently Section 160 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Public Law 115–254 (October 5, 2018). Section 47134, as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, and through delegation, the FAA Administrator, to exempt a sponsor of a public use airport that has received Federal assistance, from certain Federal requirements in connection with the privatization of the airport by sale or lease to a private party. Specifically, the Administrator may exempt the sponsor from all or part of the requirements to use airport revenues for airport-related purposes, to pay back a portion of Federal grants upon the sale of an airport, and to return airport property deeded by the Federal Government upon transfer of the airport. The Administrator is also authorized to exempt the private purchaser or lessee from the requirement to use all airport revenues for airport related purposes, to the extent necessary to permit the purchaser or lessee to earn reasonable compensation from the operations of the airport. The term ‘‘public sponsor’’ is used in this document to mean the governmental agency or authority that currently owns or operates a public airport and proposes to sell or lease it to a private purchaser or lessee. The term ‘‘private operator’’ is used to refer to a private firm or firms that propose to purchase or lease a public airport under the program; the term ‘‘applicant’’ means all of the parties jointly participating in the application for privatization of a particular airport. The terms ‘‘operating entity’’ and ‘‘private investor’’ are used for a partial privatization transaction, in which the public sponsor holds an interest in the operating entity, jointly, with a private sector investor. This document does not have the force and effect of law and is not legally binding in its own right. It is intended to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law and agency policies. Mandatory terms such as ‘‘must’’ in this notice describe established statutory or regulatory requirements. The September 1997 Notice of Final Application Procedures To implement section 47134, the FAA requested comments in April 1997 on proposed program application procedures (62 FR 19638; April 22, 1997). The FAA issued a Notice of Final Application Procedures in September E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20585-20586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08115]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2021-0008]


Request for Information on the Foundations for Evidence-Based 
Policymaking Act of 2018 Learning Agenda

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Request for information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 
(Evidence Act) and implementing Executive Branch guidance requires 
Federal agencies to develop an evidence-building plan, referred to as a 
Learning Agenda, to identify and address questions relevant to agency 
programs, policies, and regulations. Through this Request for 
Information (RFI), we seek public input to help us identify priority 
questions to guide our evidence-building activities.

DATES: To ensure that your comments are considered, we must receive 
them no later than May 20, 2021.
    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-2021-0008 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 https://www.regulations.gov. Use the Search function to find docket number 
SSA-2021-0008. 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 (410) 966-2830.
    3. Mail: Mail your comments to the Office of Regulations, Social 
Security Administration, 3100 West High Rise Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401.
    Comments are available for public viewing on the Federal 
eRulemaking portal at https://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 (SSA), 6401 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401, (410) 615-6965. 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 https://www.socialsecurity.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Evidence Act \1\ requires Federal 
agencies to develop ``a systematic plan for identifying and addressing 
policy questions relevant to the programs, policies, and regulations of 
the agency.'' \2\ This plan, referred to as a Learning Agenda, offers 
the opportunity for us to use data in order to address the key 
questions we want to answer to improve our operational and programmatic 
outcomes and to establish strategies to develop evidence to answer 
important short-and long-term strategic and operational questions.\3\ 
We seek public comments to inform the development of our Learning 
Agenda.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Public Law 115-435, 132 Stat. 5529.
    \2\ 5 U.S.C. 312(a).
    \3\ See Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and 
Agencies, from Russell T. Vought, Phase 1 Implementation of the 
Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018: Learning 
Agendas, Personnel, and Planning Guidance (July 10, 2019)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background

    In fiscal year (FY) 2021, our programs will provide a combined 
total of about $1.2 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 to the public.
    We conduct evidence-building activities that include pilot 
projects, 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 have conducted evidence-building 
activities to inform our efforts to modernize the Social Security 
Statement. This aligns with our FYs 2018-2022 Agency Strategic Plan, 
which includes modernizing the Social Security Statement to increase 
the public's understanding of our programs as a strategy.
    We have also conducted extramural research, demonstration projects, 
and outreach under Sections 234, 1110, and 1144 of the Social Security 
Act (Act).\4\ Sections 234 and 1110 of the Act provide us with 
authority 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. We 
currently fund a range of projects designed to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ 42 U.S.C. 434, 1310, 1315, and 1320b-14, respectively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Help us keep pace with advancements in medicine and 
technology;
     Modernize our vocational rules;
     Test models that promote labor force participation;
     Analyze program trends, gaps, and inconsistencies; and
     Measure the public's understanding of our programs, as 
well as the impact of program changes.
    For more information on such projects, please see the ``Research, 
Demonstration Projects, and Outreach'' section of the Supplemental 
Security

[[Page 20586]]

Income Program technical supporting materials to our FY 2021 Budget 
submission that is located on our website: https://www.ssa.gov/budget/FY21Files/2021SSI.pdf.

Request for Information

    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 evidence-building 
activities that inform important priorities for our agency, including 
those that are related to the President's broader priorities that are 
available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/priorities/. We also seek input 
on future projects that will advance our mission.
    We invite suggestions in various forms--as key questions to be 
answered, hypotheses to be tested, or problems to be investigated--that 
are focused on any area of our mission, including service delivery, 
operations, programs, policies, regulations, communication, and 
stewardship. The responses to this RFI that interested persons submit 
to us will inform our ongoing development of a set of priorities that 
will guide evidence-building activities. We will analyze information 
collected from this RFI to inform the development of our Learning 
Agenda. 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 received in response to 
this RFI, but will use the input to develop our Learning Agenda.
    The Commissioner of Social Security, Andrew Saul, 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. 2021-08115 Filed 4-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.