Memo - Request for Emergency OMB Approval - P-EBT

Food and
Nutrition
Service
Braddock Metro
Center II
1320 Braddock
Place
Alexandria, VA
22314

MEMORANDUM
TO:

James Crowe
Desk Officer
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB

THROUGH: Kelly Stewart
Chief, Planning and Regulatory Affairs
Ruth Brown
Office of the Chief Information Officer, United States Department
of Agriculture
FROM:

Pamilyn Miller
Administrator

RE:

Emergency Approval of New Information Collection for
Implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response
Act of 2020

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is requesting emergency approval under the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) to collect information associated with implementation of
the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, enacted on March 18,
2020, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to approve state plans to provide
temporary emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
assistance to households with children who would otherwise receive free or
reduced-price meals if not for their schools being closed due to the COVID-19
emergency (also known as Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT). It also provides for the
issuance of emergency allotments (supplements) based on a public health
emergency declaration by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under
section 319 of the Public Health Service Act related to an outbreak of COVID-19
when a State has also issued an emergency or disaster declaration.
FNS seeks emergency approval of information collection activities associated
with administering P-EBT and emergency allotments. FNS cannot reasonably
comply with the normal clearance procedures under the PRA because complying
would delay the agency’s ability to provide emergency food assistance to
families and children impacted by COVID-19. As such, we request expedited
approval of this information collection.

signed by RICHARD LUCAS
RICHARD LUCAS Digitally
Date: 2020.03.19 18:24:40 -04'00'

for Kelly Stewart, Chief, Planning and Regulatory Affairs

Date

signed by PAMILYN MILLER
PAMILYN MILLER Digitally
Date: 2020.03.19 19:14:58 -04'00'

Pamilyn Miller, Administrator

USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider, Employer and Lender

Date