Emergency Justification

November 22, 2021

Sally Block, Acting Administrator
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget
Amie Didlo, AmeriCorps Desk Officer
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget
SUBJECT: Request for OMB Emergency Clearance – SORN Instruments
Dear Ms. Block and Ms. Didlo:
The Corporation for National and Community Service (operating as AmeriCorps) requests
emergency clearance of four (4) information collection instruments associated with AmeriCorps’
System of Records Notice (SORN) that was previously approved by OMB’s Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on November 6, 2021 and published in the Federal
Register on November 18, 2021. These four information collection instruments are enclosed
herein.
AmeriCorps is seeking emergency clearance of the enclosed information collection instruments
in order to comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act); Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (Title VII); and Executive Order 14043,
Executive Order on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees,
issued on September 9, 2021.
Executive Order 14043 requires the COVID-19 vaccination of all Federal employees, subject to
exemptions required by law, to promote the health and safety of the Federal workforce and the
efficiency of the civil service. Section 2 of the Executive Order required that the President’s
Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (Task Force) issue guidance within seven days of the
Executive Order regarding agency implementation of this requirement. Accordingly, on
September 13, 2021, the Task Force issued guidance that requires all Federal agencies to “work
expeditiously so that their employees are fully vaccinated as quickly as possible and by no later
than November 22, 2021.” To comply with Executive Order 14043 and Task Force guidance,
AmeriCorps must begin immediately collecting health and religious information from employees
who request medical- and religious-based exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement.
The need for immediate collection of the information has been prompted by an unanticipated
event – the COVID-19 pandemic – that continues to significantly and adversely impact the

Effective September 29, 2020, the operating name of the Corporation for National and Community
Service is AmeriCorps.

250 E Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20525
202-606-5000/ 800-942-2677

health and safety of the nation and the Federal workforce. Emergency clearance of the enclosed
information collection instruments will allow AmeriCorps to engage with Agency employees
and, as needed, Agency service members and volunteers, who request accommodation through
an “interactive process” as required by the Rehabilitation Act and Title VII. Emergency
clearance will also allow the Agency to review and adjudicate exemption requests without
further delay. The collection will help to ensure a safe and healthy environment for Agency
employees and others who occupy AmeriCorps facilities, service members and volunteers in
AmeriCorps’ national service programs, and those who attend Agency events or otherwise
participate in official Agency business.
Obtaining the information is essential to AmeriCorps’ operations and to carrying out its mission.
The information collection is necessary to ensure agency compliance with all applicable Federal
civil rights laws, including the Rehabilitation Act and Title VII.
In addition, public harm is likely if clearance of the information collection instruments proceeds
through the normal OMB clearance process. Only prompt information collection ensures that
AmeriCorps can confirm the vaccination status of all its employees and thereby guard the health
and safety of the Federal workforce and the efficiency of the civil service. Going through the
normal process would delay the Agency’s ability to collect that information.
I kindly ask that OMB’s emergency clearance of the enclosed four (4) information collection
instruments that accompany the SORN.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions at 202-967-5654 or [email protected].
Respectfully submitted,

KAREN
DAHL

Digitally signed by
KAREN DAHL
Date: 2021.11.23
15:24:29 -05'00'

Karen Dahl
Senior Advisor for COVID-19
Corporation for National and Community Service
cc:

Susan Minson
Desk Officer
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget

Enclosures: (SORN Information Collection Instruments)

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