Notice2024-01494
Request for Information on Social Security Scientific Integrity Policy
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 25, 2024
Issuing agencies
Social Security Administration
Abstract
The SSA is soliciting comments and suggestions from the public on the DRAFT Scientific Integrity Policy of the Social Security Administration (DRAFT SSA Scientific Integrity Policy). The DRAFT SSA Scientific Integrity Policy codifies expectations to preserve scientific integrity throughout SSA scientific activities, establishes key roles and responsibilities for those who will lead the agency's scientific integrity program, and, as appropriate, establishes relevant reporting and evaluation mechanisms.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5083-5084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01494]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA-2023-0048]
Request for Information on Social Security Scientific Integrity
Policy
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Request for Information.
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SUMMARY: The SSA is soliciting comments and suggestions from the public
on the DRAFT Scientific Integrity Policy of the Social Security
Administration (DRAFT SSA Scientific Integrity Policy). The DRAFT SSA
Scientific Integrity Policy codifies expectations to preserve
scientific integrity throughout SSA scientific activities, establishes
key roles and responsibilities for those who will lead the agency's
scientific integrity program, and, as appropriate, establishes relevant
reporting and evaluation mechanisms.
DATES: To ensure that your comments are considered, we must receive
them no later than February 26, 2024.
ADDRESSES: 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-2023-0048 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
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Use the ``Search'' function to find docket number
SSA-2023-0048. 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 1(833) 410-1631.
3. Mail: Mail your comments to the Office of Legislation and
Congressional Affairs, Regulations and Reports Clearance, Social
Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, 3rd Floor (East)
Altmeyer Building, Mail Stop 3253, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401.
Comments are available for public viewing on the Federal
eRulemaking portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> 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, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401, (410) 615-6965, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3d1ccc1c6d1d78dd4c6c2d7cbc6d1d0e3d0d0c28dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9ceef3fef9eee8b2ebf9fde8f4f9eeefdcefeffdb2fbf3ea">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov">www.socialsecurity.gov</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SSA has developed a DRAFT SSA Scientific
Integrity Policy to help ensure science and scientific activities are
proposed, conducted, reviewed, managed, communicated, and used in ways
that preserve accuracy and objectivity. The policy aligns with Federal
Government scientific integrity efforts described in the 2021
Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through
Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based
[[Page 5084]]
Policymaking \1\ (2021 Presidential Memorandum), as well as the
National Science and Technology Council reports, Protecting the
Integrity of Government Science \2\ (January 2022) and A Framework for
Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice \3\ (January 2023).
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\1\ See 86 FR 8845 (January 27, 2021).
\2\ <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/01-22-Protecting_the_Integrity_of_Government_Science.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/01-22-Protecting_the_Integrity_of_Government_Science.pdf</a>.
\3\ <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/01-2023-Framework-for-Federal-Scientific-Integrity-Policy-and-Practice.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/01-2023-Framework-for-Federal-Scientific-Integrity-Policy-and-Practice.pdf</a>.
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Background
For nearly 90 years, we have administered programs and provided
services that make a difference in millions of people's lives. In
fiscal year (FY) 2023, our programs provided a combined total of about
$1.4 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 that ensure equity and accessibility, improve the
customer experience, and address systemic barriers to participation in
our programs.
The 2021 Presidential Memorandum states the Administration's goal
is to make evidence-based decisions guided by the best available
science and data, recognizing that scientific and technological
information, data, and evidence are central to the development and
iterative improvement of sound policies and to the equitable delivery
of programs across every area of the Federal Government. The 2021
Presidential Memorandum emphasizes that political interference in the
work of Federal scientists and other scientists who support the work of
the Federal Government (e.g., government contractors, volunteers) and
in the communication of scientific facts undermines the welfare of the
Nation, contributes to systemic inequities and injustices, and violates
the trust that the public places in our government to best serve its
collective interests.
We conduct scientific activities that include evaluations of pilot
projects, evaluations of 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 conducted evidence-building
activities relevant to our Equity Action Plan,\4\ which was created in
accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity
and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal
Government,\5\ as well as E.O. 14058 on Transforming Federal Customer
Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government.\6\ This
aligns with our Agency Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2022-2026,\7\ which
includes a strategy for deepening our understanding of our customers
and what drives their evolving service preferences.
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\4\ <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/open/materials/SSA-E.O.-13985-Equity-Action-Plan.pdf">https://www.ssa.gov/open/materials/SSA-E.O.-13985-Equity-Action-Plan.pdf</a>.
\5\ <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/</a>.
\6\ <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/12/13/executive-order-on-transforming-federal-customer-experience-and-service-delivery-to-rebuild-trust-in-government/">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/12/13/executive-order-on-transforming-federal-customer-experience-and-service-delivery-to-rebuild-trust-in-government/</a>.
\7\ Social Security Administration, Agency Strategic Plan Fiscal
Years 2022-2026, available at <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/agency/asp/materials/pdfs/SSA_Agency_Strategic_Plan_Fiscal_Years_2022-2026.pdf">https://www.ssa.gov/agency/asp/materials/pdfs/SSA_Agency_Strategic_Plan_Fiscal_Years_2022-2026.pdf</a>.
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We also conduct extramural research, demonstration projects, and
outreach under sections 1110, 1115, and 1144 of the Social Security Act
(Act). Sections 1110 and 1115 of the Act provide the waiver authority
we need 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. A
previous authority, under section 234 of the Act, allowed us to waive
Disability Insurance program rules to enhance labor force
participation; that authority sunset in 2022. We currently fund a range
of scientific projects designed to:
<bullet> Help us keep pace with advancements in medicine and
technology;
<bullet> Modernize our vocational rules;
<bullet> Test work support models;
<bullet> Analyze program trends, gaps, and inconsistencies; and
<bullet> Measure the public's understanding of our programs, as
well as the impact of program changes.
Request for Information (RFI)
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 the DRAFT SSA
Scientific Integrity Policy.
We invite suggestions that will help strengthen and promote
scientific integrity throughout the agency. The responses to this RFI
that interested persons submit to us will be considered as we develop a
final SSA Scientific Integrity Policy. 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
receive in response to this RFI. However, we will use the input to
develop our Scientific Integrity Policy.
The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Martin
O'Malley, 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. 2024-01494 Filed 1-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
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