85 FR 217 pgs. 71353-71354 - Request for Information: Evidence-Building Activities
Type: NOTICEVolume: 85Number: 217Pages: 71353 - 71354
Pages: 71353, 71354Docket number: [Docket No. DHS–2020–0043]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2020–24836 Filed 11–6–20; 8:45 am]
Agency: Homeland Security Department
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
[Docket No. DHS-2020-0043]
Request for Information: Evidence-Building Activities
AGENCY:
Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION:
Request for information.
SUMMARY:
The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 requires federal agencies to develop evidence-building plans to identify and address questions relevant to Agency policies, programs, regulations, management, and operations. Through this request for Information (RFI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeks to expand ongoing efforts to identify priority questions that can guide evidence-building activities by soliciting input from the public.
DATES:
Please send comments on or before December 31, 2020. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES:
You may submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments via Docket No. DHS-2020-0043. All comments received, including any personal information provided, may be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
If you have questions about this notice, please contact Michael Stough, Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation, (202) 447-0518, michael.stough@hq.dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Evidence Act
The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act, Pub. L. 115-435) requires each federal agency to develop, as part of the agency strategic plan issued every four years, 1 a systematic evidence-building plan (or "learning agenda") to identify and address policy questions relevant to the programs, policies, and regulations of the agency. 2 The plan must contain (1) a list of policy-relevant questions for which the agency intends to develop evidence to support policymaking; (2) a list of data the agency intends to collect, use, or acquire to facilitate the use of evidence in policymaking; (3) a list of methods and analytical approaches that may be used to develop evidence to support policymaking; (4) a list of any challenges to developing evidence to support policymaking, including any statutory or other restrictions to accessing relevant data; (5) a description of the steps the agency will take to accomplish items (1) and (2) above; and (6) any other information as required by guidance issued by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 3 In developing the evidence-building plan, the agency must consult with stakeholders, including the public, agencies, State and local governments, and representatives of non-governmental researchers. 4
Footnotes:
1 ?The latest such DHS strategic plan covers the years 2020-2024, and preceded implementation of the Evidence Act. See DHS, The DHS Strategic Plan: Fiscal Years 2020-2024, available at https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0702_plcy_dhs-strategic-plan-fy20-24.pdf (last visited Oct. 26, 2020).
2 ? See 5 U.S.C. 306, 312.
3 ? See 5 U.S.C. 312(a).
4 ? See, e.g.., OMB Memorandum M-19-23, Phase 1 Implementation of the Foundations for Evidence Based Policymaking Act of 2018: Learning Agenda, Personnel, and Planning Guidance at 16-17 (July 10, 2019), available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/M-19-23.pdf (last visited Oct. 26, 2020) ("Agencies should gather input in the manner that best meets their needs, most effectively engages their specific stakeholders, and leverages existing activities and/or requirements whenever possible, in accordance with applicable law and policy. Potential models for doing so include: Requests for Information published in the Federal Register , listening sessions with groups of stakeholders, Technical Working Groups, and one-on-one consultations. OMB recognizes that agencies may use different approaches at different points in the process, and that it may not be feasible to engage all stakeholders for all updates to the learning agenda. . . .").
DHS has commenced development of its evidence-building plan. Consistent with the Evidence Act, DHS now invites comments from the public to inform the development of the Department's evidence-building plan. DHS invites suggestions in many forms, such as questions to be answered, hypotheses to be tested, or problems to be studied. DHS will analyze information collected from this RFI to continue developing its evidence-building plan.
DHS Background
With the passage of the Homeland Security Act by Congress in November 2002, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) became a Cabinet-level agency to unite the Nation's approach to homeland security. DHS combined functions of 22 different agencies with broad responsibilities that collectively prevent attacks, mitigate threats, respond to national emergencies, preserve economic security, and preserve legacy agency functions. DHS is committed to evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of its programs, policies, and regulations. DHS will use its evidence-building plan to coordinate and communicate how evaluation, statistics, research, and analysis will be used to help the Department achieve its mission.
Request for Information
[top] Through this RFI, DHS is soliciting suggestions from a broad array of stakeholders across public and private sectors that may be familiar with or interested in the work of DHS and wish to volunteer suggestions for studies that could help DHS improve the effectiveness and efficiency of DHS programs, policies and regulations. DHS invites suggestions in many forms-such as questions to be answered, hypotheses to be tested, or problems to be studied-and focused on any area of Department's work, including policy,
This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as creating or resulting in any obligation on the part of DHS.
Michael Stough,
Evaluation Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2020-24836 Filed 11-6-20; 8:45 am]
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