Emergency Clearance Request Memo 6-24-2021

June 24, 2021
Dr. Dominic J. Mancini, Ph.D.
Deputy Administrator
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget
Washington, DC 20503
Dear Dr. Mancini:
Pursuant to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures established at 5 CFR Part 1320,
Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public, I request that the proposed content revision for the
Household Pulse Survey be processed as an Emergency Revision Request in accordance with section
1320.13, Emergency Processing. The revisions reflect the removal of questions for which utility has
declined over time, and the addition of topics based on public comment previously received and in
consult with other federal agencies. Removals include questions on Unemployment Insurance
applications; Social Security Administration program receipt and application; reasons for changed
spending; ride sharing/transit use; trips over 100 miles; spending on groceries and prepared foods;
delayed and forgone medical care; child care; and K-12 computer use and internet access.
Additionally, post-secondary education items will be held until closer to the fall term. New
questions focus on the Child Tax Credit; sexual orientation and gender identity; rent/mortgage
arrears; utility arrears and restrictions; summer catchup education activities for K-12; preventive
health care for children; and application for Medicaid or exchange coverage. I have determined that
the content revisions contribute to the U.S. Census Bureau’s mission as the nation’s leading source
of data on the nation’s people and economy. The Covid-19 pandemic is an unanticipated event that
is unprecedented in the sudden and dramatic way it continues to impact the social and economic
well-being of American households.
With your emergency approval, the Census Bureau is positioned to make these revisions in the
Phase 3.2 questionnaire of the Household Pulse Survey, set to be deployed on July 21, 2021. A
public notice requesting comments on this information collection was published in the Federal
Register on June 24, 2021. We appreciate your understanding of this urgent request and look
forward to your response.
Sincerely,

Ron S. Jarmin
Acting Director